The action takes place in August 2008 in Tbilisi. After the bombing of Gori, Russian detachments enter Tbilisi and occupy certain districts. Ketevan’s husband, the main hero of the novel, is a member of the majority party in parliament, which begins talks about a ceasefire with the Russian side, in order to overcome the political crisis. Ketevan resents this and spends the monotonous days in occupied Tbilisi with her women friends. One morning in Vakepark she gets to know Soso from Gori, who is looking for the palace of Krtsanisi. Their relationship becomes love, particularly after the both participate in an adventure. One evening Ketevan and her women friends decide to visit a fortune-teller so as to have an idea of when the war will end. The fortune-teller’s behaviour takes on an unusual form, and when they leave her they happen quite by chance on Chavchavadze Avenue to abduct a Russian soldier, put a snake in his bag, which is the start of the main story…

‘In Russian School Holidays the most typical character is Soso from Gori. The experience of unity which the war creates allows him to join up very naturally and directly with élite Tbilisi women. In any other situation they would have looked down on him, but now he suddenly becomes ‘one of them’. In fact the war abolishes social or class inequality. But as soon as the war ends, this inequality divides them again, and Soso immediately feels it and quietly vanishes from their company.’   

Shota Iatashvili, poet, critic

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